USS CARDINAL (MHC-60)

• USS Cardinal (MHC-60) was the tenth and final ship of the Osprey-class coastal mine hunters built for the United States Navy. • The ship was named after the cardinal, a bird native to North America and also the state bird of several US states, honoring both nature and regional heritage. • Launched on October 15, 1996 at Intermarine USA in Savannah, Georgia, Cardinal was commissioned on October 18, 1997. • The Osprey-class was the world's largest class of mine hunters built from glass-reinforced plastic, designed to reduce magnetic signatures and withstand mine blasts. • USS Cardinal was forward-deployed to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, playing a vital role in mine countermeasure operations in the region. • The ship was equipped with advanced mine-hunting technology, including the AN/SQQ-32 Minehunting Sonar and remotely operated mine neutralization vehicles. • During her service, Cardinal participated in numerous international naval exercises, strengthening partnerships with allied navies and enhancing mine warfare cooperation. • The ship's missions often included keeping critical sea lanes open and safe for allied and commercial shipping, especially during heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf. • In 2007, USS Cardinal was decommissioned and transferred to the Egyptian Navy, where she continues to serve under the Egyptian flag. • The transfer of Cardinal to Egypt was part of the US Navy's Foreign Military Sales program, and the ship now operates as ENS Al Sedeeq (MHC-601) in the Egyptian fleet, continuing her legacy in mine countermeasures.